We don’t make lights; we find them

Each reclaimed vintage light in our warehouse has a story to tell. Or, more accurately, two stories: its original use in the mid-20th century, and the way it was found, salvaged and restored.

New lives for old lights

In the mid 20th century, lights were designed with care and made to last. The work we do at Skinflint is based on respecting and preserving the heritage of each piece. We have three guiding principles:

To salvage
the best lighting from the 1920s to the 1970s
To restore
every piece sensitively – without compromising its character
To refurbish
each fixture to the highest modern standards

The Skinflint story

The first time our founders met, Chris tried to convince Sophie to sell him a set of opaline pendant lights she'd rescued for her house, from a condemned Victorian asylum (she said no).

Our story couldn’t have a more fitting prologue. Because here at Skinflint, everything we do is built on a love of classic lighting and design.

Chris has worked with some of the best in the industry – from Isometrix Lighting and Design and iGuzzini UK, to famed architects Foster + Partners and designer Philippe Starck.

Sophie trained at Central Saint Martins before going on to work as an art director on pop videos, BAFTA-winning BBC dramas, and TV commercials for brands such as VW and Louboutin.

In 2007, while working as lighting design consultants, Sophie and Chris were commissioned on the refurbishment of a Victorian house in North London. The owners insisted that every light sourced for the project should be an original, reclaimed vintage fixture.

This led to an 18-month hunt that spanned the UK, finding the right pieces to complement the project’s architecture and design.

The seed was sown.

Fast-forward over a decade; Skinflint is the UK’s leading vintage lighting website. Generally, you’ll find Chris and Sophie out scouring Britain and Europe for classic lights, and bringing them back to our studio: a converted Victorian warehouse by the river in Penryn, Cornwall.

Here, our team of experts and local specialists – all within 10km of our wharfside location – begin the process of researching, restoring and reassembling each light, ready to be sent around the world.

Machinist and Anglepoise Lights

Bauhaus Lights

large grey enamel pendant salvaged from John Lewis

Reclaimed pendant lighting by Thorlux

Vintage German railway floor lights

Retro 1970s prismatic glass lights

A quick word from our customers

Pendant lights

I am so delighted to have found this website.Beautiful original lights that are reasonably priced! I was not disappointed when my 2 pendants arrived. The service was quick and efficient. The lights are amazing. I can't wait to get them up in our new kitchen over the island.

- Sarah | London | UK

Ceiling plates

Beautiful little ceiling plate. Elegant. Functional. Well made. Simple to install. Top quality. Excellent condition. Excellent

- Jonny | East Sussex | UK

Spot on

I’ve now purchased five different products, over two homes refurbishments. Alongside the product, the service, speed, packaging etc. it is spot on. It’s only Skinflint that make me wish I had another project to work on and a larger property to kit out.

- Matthew | London | UK

A piece of history

We found exactly what we wanted at skinflint: large industrial pendant lights from an old Dunlop Aerospace factory. They fill the space beautifully and we often get asked where they were sourced. With such heritage attached to them, they are like a piece of history that adds to the modern vintage feel we wanted to create.

- Estelle | London | UK